Applicator Device for Applying a Liquid, and the Use of Such a Device

ABSTRACT

An applicator device for applying a liquid, the device comprising a stem terminated by a liquid applicator head that is flexible and smooth, in the form of a loop.

The present invention relates to applicator devices for applying liquid,in particular liquid cosmetics, and to uses of such devices.

More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid applicator devicecomprising a stem terminated by an applicator head in the form of a loophaving a smooth surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Document U.S. Pat. No. 1,999,642 describes an example of such a device,which device is nevertheless unsuitable for applying cosmetics to theskin.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particular object of the present invention is to improve that deviceand mitigate those drawbacks.

To this end, according to the invention, an applicator device of thekind in question, wherein at least the applicator head is made of aflexible material presenting a modulus of elasticity less than or equalto 300 megapascals (MPa) at 20° C.

By means of these dispositions, application of the liquid is madeeasier, in particular on the skin, and said application is madeparticularly quick and precise.

In various embodiments of the invention, recourse may optionally also behad to one or more of the following dispositions:

-   -   the stem is made of a material presenting a modulus of        elasticity that is greater than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.,        preferably in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, or more preferably        in the range 900 MPa to 1100 MPa, at 20° C.;    -   the stem is made of a material different from that of the        applicator head;    -   the stem is made of the same material as the applicator head and        is made integrally with said applicator head;    -   the applicator head comprises a ring of material surrounding an        empty inside space, the ring of material presenting a thickness        lying in the range 1 millimeter (mm) to 3 mm, and the empty        inside space presenting dimensions lying in the range 3 mm to 6        mm parallel to the stem and perpendicular to said stem;    -   the ring of material presents a general shape that is        substantially circular;    -   the ring of material presents a general shape that is elongate,        in particular oval;    -   the ring of material is substantially plane;    -   the ring of material defines a curved surface;    -   the ring of material presents a circular section;    -   the applicator head is made of a synthetic material based on        silicone;    -   the stem is made of a synthetic material based on polyethylene,        or on polypropylene, or on polyoxymethylene, and mixtures        thereof; and    -   the applicator device further includes a reservoir containing        the liquid for application and closed by a stopper, in an        arrangement such that for the stem secured to the stopper, the        applicator head dips in the liquid for application when said        stopper closes the reservoir.

Furthermore, the invention also provides the use of an applicator asdefined above for applying a liquid cosmetic to a surface of the humanbody, in particular to the skin or to the mucous membrane of the lips.

In particular, said liquid cosmetic presents viscosity lying in therange 20 pascal seconds (Pa.s) to 10,000 Pa.s, and more particularly inthe range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s, at 25° C.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, said liquid cosmetic isa lipstick presenting the viscosity specified above.

Finally, the invention also provides a method of making up the lips,wherein a lipstick is applied to the surface of the lips, the lipstickhaving viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s, andpreferably in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s at 25° C., the lipstickbeing applied by using a device as described above.

Thus, the method of the invention advantageously enables the lips to bemade up, and in a manner that is precise and fast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from thefollowing description of an embodiment thereof, given by way ofnon-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section view of a liquid applicator deviceconstituting an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the FIG. 1 applicator device, showing theapplicator head of the device; and

FIG. 3 is a section view on line III-III of FIG. 2, showing theapplicator head loaded with liquid and in contact with an applicationsurface.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the various figures, the same references designate elements that areidentical or similar.

FIG. 1 shows a liquid applicator device 1, e.g. for applying a liquidlipstick. The applicator device 1 comprises a reservoir 2 filled withliquid lipstick 2 a, e.g. presenting dynamic viscosity lying in therange 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s at 25° C.

By way of example, the reservoir 2 may be made of plastics or othermaterial. The neck 2 b of the reservoir is closed by a stopper 3, e.g.screwed onto the neck 2 b and made of plastics or other material, forexample. The stopper 3 is secured to a stem 4 that is terminated at itsfree end by a loop-shape applicator head 5.

When the stopper 3 closes the reservoir 2, the stem 4 extends towardsthe inside of said reservoir so that its applicator head 5 is dipped inthe liquid lipstick 2 a.

The stem 4 may present a circular section having a diameter dl that liesin the range 1 mm to 3 mm, for example. The stem 4 preferably presentsan outside appearance that is smooth, and the material of saidapplicator head advantageously presents a modulus of elasticity that isgreater than or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.

The applicator head 5 may be made either out of the same material as thestem 4, or else out of a different material, in which case theapplicator head is fitted to the stem 4 by overmolding or by any otherknown means. The applicator head 5 is preferably made of the samematerial.

The stem and the applicator head may be made, for example, out ofpolyethylene (PE), or polypropylene (PP), or polyoxymethylene (POM), ofethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), also known asethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, of polyethylene catalyzed bymetallocenes, or mixtures thereof. They may also be made of syntheticmaterial based on silicone, such as silicone rubber, for example, asobtained from liquid silicone and known as liquid silicone rubber (LSR).

In the embodiment described herein, the applicator head 5 is made ofhigh density polyethylene (HDPE) using the same material as the stem 4,and it is molded integrally with said stem 4.

The applicator head 5 comprises a ring of material 6 that advantageouslypresents an outside appearance that is smooth and that presents asection that is circular, for example, having a diameter d2 lying in therange 1 mm to 3 mm. The ring of material 6 may be generally circular inshape and define an empty inner space 7, e.g. presenting a diameter Dlying in the range 3 mm to 6 mm.

The material of the applicator head 5, which is the same as the materialof the stem 4 in the example described herein, presents a modulus ofelasticity of 900 MPa at 20° C. More generally, this modulus ofelasticity may lie in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, and preferably inthe range 900 MPa to 1100 MPa at 20° C.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the applicator head 5 when in contact with anapplication surface 8 can form an angle α with the longitudinal axis Xof the stem 4, while the liquid 2 a remains in the inside space 7defined by the ring of material 6 of the applicator head 5. This liquid2 a can then easily be applied to any application surface 8 such as, forexample, the skin of the user, and in particular the lips. By way ofexample, the angle α may be about 150° as in the example shown, withthis angle varying as a function of the application force.

Application of the liquid 2 a is made particularly easy and comfortableby the flexibility of the applicator head 5 relative to the stem 4.

Furthermore, the quantity of liquid stored in the empty inside space 7is relatively large, thereby limiting the number of times the applicatorhead needs to be moved back and forth between the reservoir 2 and thezone on which the liquid is applied.

Furthermore, the above-described applicator head 5 considerablyincreases the precision with which the liquid is applied on the skin,and enables the film of liquid that has been deposited on the skin to besmooth in excellent manner, thereby limiting the number of passes neededfor the applicator head 5 on the skin.

Finally, it should be observed that the applicator head 5 does not wearwith continued use.

1. An applicator device for applying a liquid, the device comprising astem terminated by an applicator head in the form of a loop and having asmooth surface, wherein at least the applicator head is made of aflexible material presenting a modulus of elasticity less than or equalto 300 MPa at 20° C.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the stemis made of a material presenting a modulus of elasticity that is greaterthan or equal to 300 MPa at 20° C.
 3. A device according to claim 2, inwhich the stem is made of a material presenting a modulus of elasticitylying in the range 500 MPa to 1200 MPa, preferably in the range 900 MPato 1100 MPa, at 20° C.
 4. A device according to claim 1, in which thestem is made of a material different from that of the applicator head.5. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is made of the samematerial as the applicator head and is made integrally with saidapplicator head.
 6. A device according to claim 1, in which theapplicator head comprises a ring of material surrounding an empty insidespace, the ring of material presenting a thickness lying in the range 1mm to 3 mm, and the empty inside space presenting dimensions lying inthe range 3 mm to 6 mm parallel to the stem and perpendicular to saidstem.
 7. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring of materialpresents a general shape that is substantially circular.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 6, in which the ring of material presents a generalshape that is elongate, in particular oval.
 9. A device according toclaim 6, in which the ring of material is substantially plane.
 10. Adevice according to claim 6, in which the ring of material defines acurved surface.
 11. A device according to claim 6, in which the ring ofmaterial presents a circular section.
 12. A device according to claim 1,in which the applicator head is made of a synthetic material based onsilicone.
 13. A device according to claim 1, in which the stem is madeof a synthetic material based on polyethylene, or on polypropylene, oron polyoxymethylene, and mixtures thereof.
 14. A device according toclaim 1, further including a reservoir containing the liquid forapplication and closed by a stopper, in an arrangement such that for thestem secured to the stopper, the applicator head dips in the liquid forapplication when said stopper closes the reservoir.
 15. The use of anapplicator device according to claim 1, to apply a liquid cosmetic tothe surface of the human body, in particular to the skin or to themucous membrane of the lips.
 16. A use according to claim 15, forapplying a liquid cosmetic having viscosity lying in the range 20 Pa.sto 10,000 Pa.s, and in particular in the range 20 Pa.s to 1000 Pa.s, at25° C.
 17. A use according to claim 16, in which said cosmetic is alipstick.
 18. A method of making up the lips, wherein a lipstick isapplied to the surface of the lips, the lipstick having viscosity lyingin the range 20 Pa.s to 10,000 Pa.s, and preferably in the range 20 Pa.sto 1000 Pa.s at 25° C., the lipstick being applied by using a deviceaccording to claim 1.